Theme: TROJAN HORSES ( 55A. Devious traps, and a hint to surprises found in 20-, 29- and 48-Across) -A horse is hidden inside each theme entry.
20A. Emulate the successful bounty hunter : CLAIM A REWARD. Mare.
29A. "To the best of my memory" : AS FAR AS I RECALL. Sire.
48A. "Shalom aleichem" : PEACE BE UPON YOU. Pony.
C.C. here. I'll just list all the entries and come back with more comments later.
Updated later:
Tomorrow is Chinese Spring Festival and 2014 is Year of the Horse. So I'm super-delighted with this puzzle from Mr. Ed.
Across:
1. Like many abbreviated terms in footnotes : LATIN. Et al.
6. "Hurlyburly" playwright David : RABE. Unknown to me.
10. Beer : BREW
14. __ ballerina : PRIMA
15. "Foaming cleanser" of old ads : AJAX
16. Champagne Tony of '60s golf : LEMA. 1964 British Open winner.
17. Biblical peak : SINAI
18. Confused state : DAZE
19. Plodding haulers : OXEN
23. Halloween creature : BAT
26. Three NASCAR Unsers : ALs
27. Part of D.A.: Abbr. : ATT (Attorney)
28. __ Fáil: Irish "stone of destiny" : LIA. I learned this from doing Xwords.
33. Chem lab event : REACTION
34. A.L. lineup fixtures : DHs (Designated Hitters). For LaLaLinda.
35. Baby powder ingredient : TALC
36. Siesta : NAP
38. Missal sites : PEWS
42. Grind : RUT
45. Start of a green adage : WASTE NOT
51. Adolphe who developed a horn : SAX. He invented Saxophone.
52. "Do the Right Thing" director Spike : LEE
53. Intraoffice IT system : LAN
54. Attach, as a codicil : ADD
59. Mechanical method : ROTE
60. Open and breezy : AIRY
61. Initial-based political nickname : DUBYA. Bush 44. (Correction: Bush 43. Thanks, John.) I liked the movie "W.". We also have ARI (2D. Bush spokesman Fleischer).
65. Touched ground : ALIT
66. Govt.-owned home financing gp. : GNMA
67. Made calls at home : UMPED. Great clue.
68. Chest muscles, briefly : PECS
69. Early temptation locale : EDEN
70. Mails : POSTS
Down:
1. 12-in. discs : LPS
3. Sardine holder : TIN
4. Colorful Apple : iMAC
5. Finger painting? : NAIL ART. Fresh entry.
6. Hilton rival : RADISSON. Good one also.
7. In __: stuck : A JAM
8. Cairo market : BAZAAR
9. Pushed (oneself) : EXERTED
10. Explode : BLOW
11. Store name derived from the prescription symbol : REXALL
12. "Bam!" chef : EMERIL (Lagasse)
13. Film fish : WANDA. "A Fish Called Wanda".
21. Second half of a ball game? : ALAI. Jai alai.
22. Cut with acid : ETCH
23. 1984 Olympics parallel bars gold medalist Conner : BART. Stranger to me also. 1984 is China's first Summer Olympics.
24. Out of port : ASEA
25. Nonstick cookware brand : T-FAL
30. Seaport of Ghana : ACCRA
31. Bowled over : IN AWE
32. Tree with quivering leaves : ASPEN
37. Mitt Romney's 2012 running mate : PAUL RYAN. Like the entry, not the person.
39. "The Celts" singer : ENYA
40. Stacked fuel : WOOD. Hi there Manac! Sorry for stealing your picture. I could not make the link work.
41. Poker game : STUD
43. Bruins' campus: Abbr. : UCLA
44. Like most new drivers : TEENAGE. Do you love this song also?
46. Hot springs resorts : SPAS
47. Strengthened : TONED UP
48. Prisoner's reward : PAROLE
49. Strikingly unusual : EXOTIC
50. Trailing : BEHIND
51. Purse part : STRAP
56. New York team : JETS
57. "Him __": romantic triangle ultimatum : OR ME
58. Bout of beefy battlers : SUMO
62. ER vitals : BPs. Oh, Blood Pressure.
63. "However ..." : YET
64. Product promos : ADS
C.C.
